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I find OSM (the website) is a great map. It's blazing fast (Google Maps aren't), and the color scheme is very clear. When I want to explore some random place on
by orthoxerox 6y ago
I find OSM (the website) is a great map. It's blazing fast (Google Maps aren't), and the color scheme is very clear. When I want to explore some random place on Earth (that uses a writing system I can actually read) I always use OSM.
Google Maps (or its local competitors) are great for spatial searches (ATMs in the area, shops in the area) and routing.
Finally, Wikimapia is great for virtual urban exploration. If you saw an abandoned building or warehouse, or found a suspicious bald spot in the middle of the forest when using OSM or Google Maps, the best place to learn about it is Wikimapia.
- ivan_ah 6y agoDirect link to Wikimapia https://wikimapia.org/ https://wikimapia.org/ Highly recommended for looking around when you move to a new neighbourhood or city... I would say tourism, but that is NaT (not a thing) right now.
- mschuetz 6y agoI'm also in favour of OSMs color scheme. It's much easier to parse.
- iggldiggl 6y agoOh yes, Google's colour scheme seems heavily geared towards the map only ever serving as an inconspicuous geographical background for displaying routing information or POIs. When you actually want to use it as a map in its own right, it's absolutely infuriating, though – forests disappear when you zoom in, the distinction between built-up areas and surrounding open space does so likewise, so all you're left with is lots of faint white streets on a light grey background with some random green spaced dotted around.